battering | ic contact;

[ Shut up, it was about not forgetting any of these simple, silly moments. It's a little too much having her so close, but Yata pushes that out of his thoughts and smiles.

once she's taken it, ] I wanna see!

[ She looks at the picture, then laughs before showing it to him. ]

You look silly.

[ But with a picture like this, it's hard to believe she was crying moments ago. ]

You better keep it safe! You're the only person allowed to see it, alright?!

[ Because like hell did he want the other guys seeing embarrassing pictures of him. Totsuka having pictures of him in cat ears was bad enough. ]

[ She covers her mouth with the tablet to laugh. ]

I know. [ She's been keeping a lot of those lately, secrets. ]

Ah, do you want to make more? [ said as she picks more flowers. ] Additional crowns have a price, though.

Yeah? What's the price?

[ whatever it was, it looked like he was willing to pay it, given that he starts picking some of the surrounding flowers without having to get up. ]

[ She didn't expect him to say yes! She did have something up her sleeve, though.]

Oh, um... you must tell me more about you. Like your interests, family, school... You have been to school, right?

[ She asks because she knows Totsuka couldn't finish. ]

Of course I've been to school! I joined HOMRA when I was in middle school, so I just didn't bother with the next one.

[ Yata shrugs, eyes focused on his lap as he arranges some of the flowers. He cuts the stem on one and reaches over to tuck it behind Kougyoku's ear. ]

HOMRA's my family, but... I also have a little sister.

[ "Interests" was pretty vague, so he'll leave it unless she's specific. ]

[ Kougyoku wasn't ready for that, either. As soon as he places the flower in her hair, the color red makes its way across her face. Stop distracting her, she still hasn't started. ]

Oh, I never would have guessed.

[ The little sister. Actually, since he keeps mentioning it so often, she should ask this too. ]

Why did you join HOMRA?

Because Mikoto-san was cool.

[ That's awfully shallow?! No, it's okay, he was just (mostly) teasing. ]

Mm, we weren't doing much else, you know? HOMRA gave me a purpose... otherwise I probably would've wasted my life on something stupid.

[ She was about to say "THAT'S IT!?" but then... ]

So that's how it is. To tell you the truth, I never truly understood why you were so devoted to HOMRA. But I do now.

[ Because she was the same. Picking up the flowers she gathered, she begins working on her own crown. ]

That's why you have to become stronger.

I know.

[ I just wish you'd become stronger with me. No. Of course he can't say that. ]

Maybe someday I'll even be stronger than you, Kou-chan.

You think so? [ They're leagues apart. If he could become a King, then... maybe.

She wouldn't be there to see it. ] I'm looking forward to it.

But I don't just speak in terms of strength and skill, you know.

What ways are there?

[ Yata knew, of course, he'd just rather hear it from her, on the simple fact alone that he really enjoyed hearing her talk. When she said things like those... it was easier to believe them.

He places a flower behind her other ear (he may cover her in them at this rate, oops). ]

[ STOP... She's ignoring that one. Badly. She chuckles and lowers her head a bit. ]

Let's see. There's the strength to protect someone, the strength to face your fears, the strength to stand alone... the strength to get back up.

I think I've got most of those down, but I guess I won't really know until I need to.

[ He'll stop, he's actually making a crown with the flowers this time. For now. ]

What about you?

I don't know, either. But... I guess I can say the same. I don't think we can really say how strong we are until the time comes. The most we can do is prepare.

[ She sounded cool just now. She's writing that down later.

Kougyoku does mean it, though. If Totsuka and Mikoto must return and die, she knows she can't be with Yata to support him. ]

[ She did sound cool, he's gotta give her props. ]

Right! [ He looks around for a moment before his smile lands on her. ] And I guess we're preparing by hanging out with flowers in the middle of nowhere.

Oh, come off it. This is important, too!

[ She laughs, then hums in thought. ]

It's called... building camaraderie? [ a fancy excuse ]

[ Cue a laugh as he holds up a finished crown for her to see before setting it to the side, shaking his head. ]

You're such a dork.

Shut up! You're one to talk, chasing rabbits and making secret bases...

Hey, that's all cool stuff! What have you been doing? [ beat. ] Wait, don't answer that, you've probably been doing really important war stuff when I wasn't looking...

[ Yeah... Yeah, she has, which is why she is smiling. But it's okay, Yata, she knows. ]

Well, I like doing those things, too.

[ She places the flower crown she just finished next to Yata's. ]

You have your strengths and I have mine, right? It's nice... having a goal, having people to protect.

...Maybe we should make a crown for Homura.

[ with a laugh, ] She'd chew it up in two seconds!

[ he scoots himself over to the side to reach for more flowers, however, more than happy to go along with that idea. ]

You know, more than anything, I wanna protect everyone and help out... but I don't think anyone takes me seriously. [ another laugh, this time a bit-- sadder? it's soft as he confides in her, and he places the new flowers on Kougyoku's lap. ]

Isn't that because you like to fool around?

[ She can tell it bothers him, though. ]

That's not bad. [ Picking up the flowers, entwining the stems to make the beginnings of a smaller crown. ] Tatara is even sillier.

But I think your feelings get through to them. There is a reason you are the strongest after Mikoto and Izumo, that's what I believe. [ before he asks— ] Tatara told me.

...For what it's worth, I believe in you. I would do anything for you—you know that, right?

[ He simply listens to her, and by the time she's done Yata feels like his heart is trying to claw its way out of his chest, with the way it was aching.

There's a lot he wants to say but somehow none of it feels like it'd be enough for something as great as her faith in him, what could he even say to properly express that he'd do the same for her a thousand times over--

He suddenly leans over and presses his lips softly against hers. ]

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